Tell your MP: Protect VPN use in the UK

VPNs help people to stay private and safe online. However, the Government is proposing powers that could force us to verify our age when we buy a VPN - which could deter many people from using security tools.

Tell your MP to protect the use of VPNs, so that people can stay safe and secure online. 

 

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Protect VPN use in the UK

VPNs help people to stay private and safe online. Young people use them to avoid harassment, or protect location data. Companies use them to make sure remote log-in to their networks are secure. Journalists, campaigners and whistle blowers use them to protect their work and themselves.

But the Government wants to give ministers powers to restrict access to any Internet services. These could be used to force people to verify their age when they buy a VPN. This will deter adults from using VPNs, and prevent Children from using a technology that helps them stay safe and secure online.

Why would the government restrict access to VPNs?

The Government’s is giving itself sweeping powers to restrict access to any 'Internet services'.  This is so it can deliver its goal of forcing Internet users to verify their age before they can access certain content or use certain features. They believe that this will keep children safe online.

What began as a policy aimed at restricting children’s access to pornography is now expanding into a system of routine identity checks for ordinary internet use.

Soon it will be almost impossible for adults in the UK to access the Internet without proving their age.

Age verification as a policy for online safety is deeply flawed:

1. Age verification creates new harms for users in the form of data breaches and leaks.

2. Age verification doesn’t change the underlying system which creates online harms.

3. Some age verification processes result in more people's personal data going into systems that target people with online adverts, and drive algorithimic content. 

4. Age verification fails to tackle online harms for adults

5. Age verification does not dismantle the surveillance based attention economy that drives polarising and addictive content. 

We need to stop the expansion of age verification and demand reform that tackles the underlying problems with online spaces.

We need to ensure that these powers are not used to retrict important security tools, such as VPNs. Write to your MP to tell them to protect VPN use in the UK.